Best Campgrounds near San Rafael, NM

The two times we've been there the toilets were clean and there was a couple open spots. I would have given it like five but the last time we were there there was a group in two converted buses that seem to be living there and we noticed them making the rounds at 1:30 in the morning, had it not been for our dogs running them off..... Other than that, it's a very nice campground

The gate at the end of the road is closed Dec. 15 to March 31. Parked outside the gate for the night. Looks like a nice area if I could get there. Don't drive the road after a rain.

Easy to find and quiet campground with trash cans and bathrooms.

$18 rate if you mention the billboards on the highway, but $22 otherwise so it's a good deal. Park is close to the casino, pretty level sites, clean, with full hookups (including sewer), no riffraff. Call the casino hotel front desk, or stop in at the front desk to register. Only about 10% of sites occupied when I was there in December.

Big truck stop gas station across the street if you need anything. Casino has a buffet restaurant and another bar to watch the game. Ended up staying an extra night to get prime rib on Saturday. 

Security will drive you back and forth to the casino if you request, but it's only a 5 minute walk.

The wash to get into the campground is steep on both sides. We drug a bit on the way in and a lot on the way out.we have a silverback 37bh that specs say is 39'11". Would not try it again. The campground is awesome though. Quiet with trash receptacles and vault toilets. Amazing dark sky view of the stars. Mostly empty.

Great Dispersed Camp Ground less than 20 minutes off of  I-40 that will accommodate all types of camping from tents to large trailers. (There is a dip in the gravel road leading up to the camp ground that did scrape my jack but I think if you hit it at an angle it might be OK.)

Within 20 feet of my campsite site I could see for miles of the gorgeous  valley.

Each camp site has a fire pit, grill, and picnic tables covered with a roof and has a nice pit toilet and trash within a very short walking distance.

I am here in the beginning of November and it is chilly and about to get downright cold with expected snow tomorrow, down to 16 degrees the next night, even though it looks more like the desert.

I have a very good signal with Verizon, TMobile is low.

Water is available at the Ranger Station up the road, and Walmart Super Center and other stores within 20-30 minutes.

Great rate for 30 A. I love to see the wild horses roaming the park.

We picked this free area for convenience (easy to get to from I40) and how it looked in photos.
What other reviews say about the start of the road being rough is correct. The wash areas are really poorly maintained. Once you get past this the road is pretty good.
We found a nice campsite and were able to get level in the pickup camper. Stayed two night and enjoyed the beauty.
Some complain about noise form I40, but if you come back into the area you can’t hear it.

Campgrounds easy to access.  I did not have a site reservation, buit there were lots of vacent pads available.   Nice view of the lake.   Only drawback was the all night  incessant  winds.  They were strong, gusty and loud.  So strong they collapsed my tent on top of me. Notmuch sleep that night.  It might have been where I was (pad 44),  They were still strong in the morning, but I noticed they were less/non existant at the campsites near the main entrance.  Just bewaye and be prepared.

I’m actually stuck here as I’m writing this because the rain washed out the road, and everything is so muddy. I was tired and the weather app said only a 50% chance of rain for an hour, but boy was that wrong. A nice spot besides that, close to the highway but far enough away to not have much noise. I would avoid it in the future without something 4x4 though.

There were several spots. We did have to drive a couple miles to get away from other campers. Was perfectly fine after a day of cross country driving. Camped in a Jeep.

This was a great find along the 40. The road is a bit long but it follows the 40 most of the way and is accessible for most cars. Though lower clearance may need to be careful at certain points. We found that the spots were far apart so we didn't have anyone near us.

I would definitely stay here again.

Went about 2 miles up the road to find the last good spot. Found a few sites off of the road before this but all occupied. We got a site for 2 RVs that protected us from an impending windstorm. Sites not very level but managed to get the RVs level enough. Thoroughly enjoyed the area. Biked 6 miles up the road. Had cell service (Verizon and T-mobile).

Stayed for ten days only saw three other campers. Very peaceful, rough in and out but made it with ease. wAtch out if it rains very muddy roads

Great quiet dispersed camp ground. There were plenty of spots to choose from. The surrounding area is gorgeous! The camp spot is nestled in the trees and has plenty of shade for the summer months. Currently in April the picnic area was closed.

Great Spot! Clean and easy to find. A bit bumpy to access. 2WD will only bring you to the first two sites. We were told from another camper that for all others you will need 4WD . Also it seems the access can become muddy after rain. You will probably need 4WD in that case too.

Found this using this app. Spent three days/ two nights here. Set up by the little canyon and hiked down. Very peaceful.

I enjoyed my week at Joe Skeen in April 2024. If you camp near the top of the loop, overlooking the road below you'll get some cell service. I was in camp site 8 and have Tmobile I had 5G 2 bars, but it came in and out. I was still able to stream and use my phone hot spot. Nice cement pads with picnic tables, pavillion, fire pit and BBQ stands. Vault toilets with trash bins, but NO WATER! Be careful if you're towing anything, as my trailer bottomed out and bent the jack stand on my brand new car hauler trailer at the gulley in the road on the way into the campground. They should fill that in!! Check out my Utube journey's at: Candy's Catmobile RV Life on Utube. (:

The area is beautiful with a winding road that takes you farther if you want to go. I drove in about .25 mile and found a nice spot that others had used as a camp site.

The road getting to Six Mile Canyon is a little rough due to ruts, but we did fine in a Class C. Just went really slowly.